ISLAMABAD: The National Institute of Health (NIH) has issued an advisory to control and prevent diphtheria, a highly contagious infectious disease caused by a toxin produced by Coryne bacterium diphtheria.

The disease usually affects throat and sometime tonsils, as per the advisory.

“Considering the emerging situation of recent upsurge of diphtheria cases and associated mortality across various regions of the country and higher risk of transmissibility during the dry and cool season, it is of eminent importance that healthcare authorities should proactively implement prevention and control strategies in order to halt the ongoing transmission,” the advisory said.

“This national advisory aims to inform healthcare authorities on the implementation of data-driven, evidence-based targeted interventions to disrupt transmission.”

It recommended actions including improving vaccine coverage, enhancing surveillance for early detection, reporting and response, ensuring proper case management, and promoting public health education.

The advisory added that diphtheria usually affects the throat and sometimes tonsils and can involve mucous membrane and skin. It can be classified based on the sites; anterior nasal, pharyngeal and tonsillar, laryngeal, cutaneous, ocular and genital. These classifications are important for manifestation, diagnosis and treatment of disease.

“Diphtheria affects individuals of all ages, but unimmunised children under 5 years of age are most commonly affected. The case fatality rate varies from 5-17pc among the unvaccinated. Early detection and accurate diagnosis (both clinical and lab), effective case management, utilising diphtheria antitoxin or recommended antibiotics, are crucial for saving lives,” the advisory stated.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2024